7 Characteristics of a Successful Onboarding Experience

On the job, as in life, first impressions are essential. Your new hires know how vital it is to make an excellent first impression early in their career, but it's also crucial for their new employers to put their best foot forward in welcoming the newest team members. While the candidate may have wowed the organization during the interview process, now it's the organization's turn to wow them with a fantastic first day of work and a career for the long term.

Here are seven ways that you can make your new hire's first day perfect:

1. Be prepared.

When a new hire arrives on the job, be ready for them. Greet them when they arrive and have their workplace ready. Make them feel appreciated and welcome on the first day. Your organization doesn't necessarily need to pull out all the stops but at least have the new hire's workspace prepared with all the relevant tools they need to start work immediately.

2. Take a tour.

Show your new hires the whole facility and introduce them to their co-workers. Include all common and important places during the tour like restrooms, conference rooms and break areas. Even if your office space is small, a company tour is vital, you'll help the new employee feel more comfortable with their new surroundings as they begin to get to know the job, the people, and the company culture.

3. On the job training.

While it's evident that you will be training your new hires, make sure the training starts on day one. By enabling them to jump in immediately, your new employees will feel confident about their roles and contributions to the organization. Starting small is fine. Your initial training program could include anything from how to use the equipment, to what’s required for specific assignments. Also, if the new hire will be interacting with clients, be sure to explain who the customers are and how the employee will be interacting with them.

4. Start new hires out with small and manageable assignments.

You don't want bored employees on Day One. If they are, they might start to wonder why they joined your company in the first place. On the other hand, you also don't want to give them too much to do and overwhelm them. By giving new hires a few manageable tasks and the details they need to succeed, you'll make sure their first day helps them get their feet wet. They'll get to see the kind of work they'll be doing, without feeling overwhelmed with everything at once. Doing something productive will also give them a sense of purpose and will bring them into the fold.

5. Assign a mentor.

Because new hires are usually unsure of the specific tasks they'll be taking on and may not understand how to get started, they're going to have some questions during their first several weeks at work. Instead of leaving it up to chance, assign a mentor to help them feel more comfortable, confident, and part of the team. Instead of an overwhelming contingent of strangers, they will have one person assigned to help them. Another benefit is that a mentoring program can also give an up-and-coming leader a chance to stretch their legs.

6. Get paperwork out of the way early.

Paperwork is a necessary part of the onboarding process. To help new hires to be productive more quickly, organizations should get it out of the way early. Try to keep the process quick and efficient to avoid making a new employee spend the entire morning of their first day doing nothing but filling out forms. Consider using a paperless solution to eliminate inefficiencies and support the environment by being green.   

In 2020, there is an excellent chance that your new employees are paying attention to the footprint you are leaving on the environment. You may want to provide electronic forms that employees can fill out on a company computer or email them back to HR prior to their first day.

7. Ask for feedback.

Once the first day draws to a close, give the new hire a chance to provide feedback. Ask them how everything went and if they have questions, worries or concerns. Then see what they need for the next day. Asking for feedback will give new employees a chance to share what they need for success. This makes the transition to a new job even more manageable, and it will also help you improve your onboarding process and update it when needed.    

Starting a new job is never easy, many new hires feel overloaded at first. By utilizing these tips, organizations can make the first day of work a seamless transition and help new employees feel comfortable and welcome.